Robert Redford

Charles Robert Redford Jr., known as Robert Redford, is an American actor and filmmaker with a remarkable career spanning over several decades. Born on August 18, 1936, Redford has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to the entertainment industry.
Redford's journey in show business began in the late 1950s, with appearances on stage and television. He made his film debut in "War Hunt" (1962) and quickly rose to prominence as a leading man in Hollywood. Some of his notable early roles include performances in "Barefoot in the Park" (1967), "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" (1969), "Jeremiah Johnson" (1972), and "The Candidate" (1972).


Throughout the 1970s, Redford continued to establish himself as a versatile and talented actor, earning critical acclaim for his roles in films like "The Sting" (1973), "The Way We Were" (1973), and "All the President's Men" (1976).
In 1980, Redford made his directorial debut with "Ordinary People," a drama that garnered widespread acclaim and won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. He continued to direct and star in films such as "Brubaker" (1980), "The Natural" (1984), and "Out of Africa" (1985), showcasing his talent both in front of and behind the camera.
In addition to his work in film, Redford co-founded the Sundance Resort and Film Institute in 1981, aiming to support and promote independent filmmakers. The Sundance Film Festival, which emerged from this initiative, has since become one of the most prestigious events in the film industry.


Redford's later career saw him taking on diverse roles, including in films like "All Is Lost" (2013), "Truth" (2015), and "The Old Man & the Gun" (2018). He also appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Alexander Pierce in "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" (2014) and "Avengers: Endgame" (2019).
Throughout his career, Redford's contributions to film and his dedication to supporting independent cinema have earned him numerous accolades, including Academy Awards, Golden Globes, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. His impact on the industry and his enduring legacy as an actor, director, and advocate for filmmaking continue to be celebrated by audiences and peers alike.


Robert Redford was born on August 18, 1936, in Santa Monica, California, to Martha Woodruff Redford (née Hart) and Charles Robert Redford Sr., who worked as an accountant. He had a paternal half-brother named William. Redford's ancestry includes English, Scottish, and Irish roots. His great-great-grandfather, Elisha Redford, immigrated to the United States from England and married Mary Ann McCreery, who was of Irish Catholic descent. They settled in Stonington, Connecticut. On his maternal side, the Harts were Irish from Galway, while the Greens were Scots-Irish who arrived in the United States in the 18th century. Redford's family lived in Van Nuys, California, where his father worked in El Segundo.


Redford attended Van Nuys High School, where he was classmates with the future baseball pitcher Don Drysdale. He wasn't a dedicated student academically, but he found inspiration in art and sports. He even played tennis with renowned player Pancho Gonzales at the Los Angeles Tennis Club.
After graduating from high school in 1954, Redford enrolled at the University of Colorado in Boulder for about a year and a half. During this time, he joined the Kappa Sigma fraternity. However, his time at the university was marred by heavy drinking, leading to the loss of his scholarship and eventual expulsion. He then embarked on a journey through Europe, living in France, Spain, and Italy.
Upon returning to the United States, Redford studied painting at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn and took classes at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, graduating in 1959. This marked the beginning of his journey into acting and the arts.


Robert Redford's career began in New York City, where he found work on both stage and television. He made his Broadway debut in a small role in "Tall Story" (1959), followed by appearances in "The Highest Tree" (1959) and "Sunday in New York" (1961). However, his biggest success on Broadway came in 1963 with Neil Simon's "Barefoot in the Park," where he played the role of the stuffy newlywed husband.
Starting from 1960, Redford appeared as a guest star in numerous television drama programs, showcasing his versatility. His television credits include shows like "Naked City," "Maverick," "The Untouchables," "The Twilight Zone," and many others. Redford's screen debut was in "Tall Story" (1960), although he initially had minor roles. He gained recognition for his performance in "The Voice of Charlie Pont" (ABC, 1962), which earned him an Emmy nomination for Best Supporting Actor.


In 1962, Redford landed his second film role in "War Hunt" and went on to star alongside Alec Guinness in the war comedy "Situation Hopeless ... But Not Serious." He received critical acclaim for his performance in "Inside Daisy Clover" (1965), which earned him a Golden Globe for Best New Star. He continued to establish himself as a leading man with roles in Sydney Pollack's "This Property Is Condemned" (1966) and Arthur Penn's "The Chase," where he starred alongside Jane Fonda and Marlon Brando for the first and only time in his career.


Fonda and Redford continued their on-screen partnership in the film adaptation of "Barefoot in the Park" (1967), reprising their roles from the successful Broadway production. Their chemistry was evident once again, delighting audiences. Years later, they reunited in Sydney Pollack's "The Electric Horseman" (1979), and then, 38 years after their first collaboration, they starred together in the Netflix film "Our Souls at Night."
Despite his initial success, Redford became wary of being typecast as the typical blond leading man and turned down roles in films like "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" and "The Graduate." He sought to break free from this stereotype and found the perfect opportunity in George Roy Hill's "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" (1969), where he starred alongside Paul Newman. This film propelled Redford to superstardom, establishing him as a versatile actor capable of playing intelligent, reliable, and sometimes sardonic characters.


Although Redford didn't receive Academy Award or Golden Globe nominations for his portrayal of the Sundance Kid, he won a British Academy of Film and Television Award (BAFTA) for his performance in that role, as well as for his roles in "Downhill Racer" (1969) and "Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here" (1969). Despite these successes, some of his subsequent films like "Little Fauss and Big Halsy" (1970) and "The Hot Rock" (1972) didn't perform well commercially.
Redford had long nurtured ambitions to work behind the camera as well. He served as an executive producer for "Downhill Racer" as early as 1969. His directorial debut came with "Ordinary People" (1980), which won him four Academy Awards, including Best Director and Best Picture.

References

1.  Gibbs, Nancy. "Editor's Letter: The Ties That Bind the TIME 100". Time. Archived from the original on April 24, 2014. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
2. ^ "Robert Redford". Time. April 23, 2014. Archived from the original on April 24, 2014. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
3. ^ "Monitor". Entertainment Weekly. No. 1220/1221. August 17–24, 2012. p. 28.
4. Stated on Inside the Actors Studio, 2005
5. a b c d Callan, Michael Feeney (2011). Robert Redford: The Biography. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9780857206190. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
6. ^ Farber, Stephen (October 20, 1991). "Sponsored Archives: A Robert Redford Retrospective, Redford Turns West Again". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 16, 2016. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
7. ^ "New England Historic Genealogical Society". Archived from the original on December 12, 2005. Retrieved April 27, 2008.. Web.archive.org (December 12, 2005). Retrieved January 6, 2012.